Why Are Resolutions Important?
NGAMA and NGAUS are member-based organizations; input from our members is instrumental in determining what direction we take in the coming years. Your input defines what issues are important. Our duty is to support the National Guard community by lobbying the Massachusetts State Legislature and the United States Congress.
Through face-to-face engagement, letters, emails, and phone calls, we make sure that our representatives understand the important issues facing the National Guard today.
What is a Resolution?
A resolution is a legislative idea that a member or state would like NGAMA to work on. If it is a state issue, NGAMA will work with the Massachusetts State Legislature. For federal issues, NGAMA will work with NGAUS to make our voice heard. As a member-based organization, NGAMA and NGAUS solicits proposed resolutions from its membership aimed at enhancing the National Guard, its equipment, capabilities and the quality of life for Soldiers, Airmen and their families.
Resolutions are categorized as Army, Air or Joint. Army and Air resolutions relate to missions or equipment under the purview of the Army and Air National Guard, while Joint resolutions relate to issues involving personnel and benefits, medical, and domestic operations.
Preparing a Draft Resolution
For information about preparing a resolution go to ngaus.org/legislation/resolutions.
Resolutions must be submitted to the NGAMA Resolution Co-Chairmen.
NGAMA Resolution Submission Process
Resolutions must be submitted to either point of contact no later than 1 July each year. This deadline allows for the resolutions to be reviewed and processed for adoption at the NGAMA Annual Conference. Members may continue to submit resolutions for consideration in the following year.
Members of NGAMA should feel free to contact the Resolutions committee for advice and assistance in preparation of their resolution.
Newly Submitted Draft Resolutions from NGAMA
Federal Resolution Priorities
The Army and Air National Guard operate under the control of the federal government, with very few exceptions. Therefore, the NG should have the same access to DERA funding as their active duty counterparts for ALL contaminants for the purposes of investigation, design, remediation and all related peripheral costs. Based upon the Policy put forth by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment memo dated 28 Nov 2017, the NG was retroactively eliminated from using DERA funds. Since that memo, NDAA FY19 has allocated $29M for Guard use for at PFOS/PFOA contaminated site remediation, in addition to opening up DERA funded for NG PFOS/PFOA investigation and design. Those two compounds are but two of the contaminants that require remediation when discovered on NG facilities. This policy eliminated Guard use of DERA funds for any legacy or emerging contaminants. If the Guard is no longer allowed DERA funding, they must now use O & M funds for these “must pay bills”. Basically, this would require the National Guard to utilize operational funds normally slated for maintenance and training; dramatically affecting unit mission readiness and lethality of the force.
The purpose of this resolution is to introduce language that would require the U.S. Army North’s Commander to be a qualified National Guard officer who is eligible for promotion to the grade of O-9. U.S. Army North’s primary responsibilities are Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Security Cooperation activities with the armed forces of Canada and Mexico. This mission is uniquely suited to National Guard flag officers with the experience gained from leading repeated domestic response missions, as well as the lasting relationships that they have developed while responding to large scale emergencies time and time again each time the nation has called. As the Army has become an integrated global force with the Army National Guard as its partner, it makes sense that it would direct the mission of Homeland Defense to its component that has significant overlap into this area to the point of redundancy. The Army National Guard has continuously proven the ability to respond effectively to a wide range of domestic emergencies, build the necessary partnerships, and simultaneously maintained the ability to provide ready forces to Combatant Commanders overseas.
Congress should amend 10 U.S.C. §10171 to retain the statutory rank, roles, responsibilities, and functions of the Director, Army National Guard, and Chief of the Army Reserve but disestablish the U.S. Army Reserve Command. The Army should align remaining U.S. Army Reserve Operational, Functional, Support and Training Commands under appropriate Regular Army higher headquarters, and eliminate those considered redundant. The roles, responsibilities, and functions of disestablished and realigned organizations should be assumed by the Secretary of the Army, Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA), and Army Commands (e.g., FORSCOM [U.S. Army Forces Command], IMCOM [Installation Management Command], MEDCOM [U.S. Army Medical Command], OTJAG [Office of the Judge Advocate General]), all of which will have increased representation by Reserve Component Soldiers, as determined by the Secretary of the Army.
NGAMA Standing Resolutions at NGAUS
JOINT RESOLUTIONS
J 18 K Add MA
NORTHCOM Commander or Deputy National Guard Membership
03/24/2017
The Army and Air National Guard operate under the control of the federal government, with very few exceptions. Therefore, the NG should have the same access to DERA funding as their active duty counterparts for ALL contaminants for the purposes of investigation, design, remediation and all related peripheral costs. Based upon the Policy put forth by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment memo dated 28 Nov 2017, the NG was retroactively eliminated from using DERA funds. Since that memo, NDAA FY19 has allocated $29M for Guard use for at PFOS/PFOA contaminated site remediation, in addition to opening up DERA funded for NG PFOS/PFOA investigation and design. Those two compounds are but two of the contaminants that require remediation when discovered on NG facilities. This policy eliminated Guard use of DERA funds for any legacy or emerging contaminants. If the Guard is no longer allowed DERA funding, they must now use O & M funds for these “must pay bills”. Basically, this would require the National Guard to utilize operational funds normally slated for maintenance and training; dramatically affecting unit mission readiness and lethality of the force.
AIR RESOLUTIONS
The purpose of this resolution is to introduce language that would require the U.S. Army North’s Commander to be a qualified National Guard officer who is eligible for promotion to the grade of O-9. U.S. Army North’s primary responsibilities are Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Security Cooperation activities with the armed forces of Canada and Mexico. This mission is uniquely suited to National Guard flag officers with the experience gained from leading repeated domestic response missions, as well as the lasting relationships that they have developed while responding to large scale emergencies time and time again each time the nation has called. As the Army has become an integrated global force with the Army National Guard as its partner, it makes sense that it would direct the mission of Homeland Defense to its component that has significant overlap into this area to the point of redundancy. The Army National Guard has continuously proven the ability to respond effectively to a wide range of domestic emergencies, build the necessary partnerships, and simultaneously maintained the ability to provide ready forces to Combatant Commanders overseas.
Have an idea for a Resolution?
Contact the Resolutions committee to submit ideas that benefit Massachusetts Guard members, their families and retirees.
Better yet—join the committee and lend your expertise to the Association and its members.
NGAMA Resolution Contacts:
Ryan Peterson, Resolutions Committee Chair
email: [email protected]
call: 781-430-9583
Matthew McKenna, NGAMA Executive Director
email: [email protected]
call: 617-633-3117